Windmill



Feb. 8, 1938. I c, J CLARK 2,107,690

' WINDMILL Filed Jan. 7, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Aii rneys C. J.CLARK WINDMILL Feb.- s, 1938.

Filed Jan. 7, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 s BEIIJIIFI Inventor I U. r71. Clarkv Q By Attorneys- Feb; 8, 1938. J CLARK 2,107,690

WINDMILL I Filed Jan. 7, 19 37 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 as v Aiiorney InventorFeb. s, 1938. J, CLARK 2,107,690

Attorneys I C. J. CLARK WINDMILL Filed Jan. 7, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 5Ihvenior c.1 67am? 'Aiiomgys Feb. s, 1938. 1 CLARK v 2,107,690

I I WINDMILL Ffled Jan. 7, .1937 7 sne'ets-sheet s Inventor AttorneysFeb; 8, 1938. J CLARK. 7 2,107,690

WINDMILL Filed Jan. 7, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 L Inventor (1st]: Clam/rI By @maoifi;

A rtomeus of suitable construction.

Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 4 Claims.-

This invention relates to windmills, and an object of the invention isto provide a windmill which is automatically controlled and involves arotating power member having pivoted blades or wings, together withmeans for presenting the Windmill blades or wings at the proper angle tothe wind, together with means to be actuated by a storm or high velocityof wind to release the wings or blades, whereby they will be presentededgewise to the wind and thus render the windmill safe from damage undersuch conditions.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the windmill.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the mill.

7 Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view partly in section and partly inelevation showing a wind or blade mounting.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view,'partly in section andpartly in elevation showing governor means for releasing the wings.

Figure 6 is a side or edge elevational view of a wing assembly with thewings or vane at the near side removed.

Figure 7 is a. sectional view taken substantially "on the line 1-1 ofFigure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a shaft and fixed clutch memberassociated therewith.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a slidable clutch element.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a wing or vane.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a fork.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a rocker arm assembly; and

Figure 13 is a member.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, it will be seen that thenumeral IE! indicates a tower A shaft ll extends through the tower andabove the same.

A gear box I2 is provided with a boss i3 which is fixedly secured toanupper portion of the shaft H in any, suitable manner and as indicatedgenerally at I4. The gear box I2 is also provided with a removable capl5 as shown.

On the lower end of the boss 13 is an integral perspective view of ascrew disc I6 to which are riveted or otherwise securedradiallyextending angle bars I1.

Also fixed on the shaft II as at 18 is a hub or disc member 19 to whichare riveted or otherwise secured as at 20'one end of angle bars 2|.

The bars 2| are arranged in alignment with the bars I! thus providing acircular series of vertically spaced pairs of bars ll, 2|, the bars ofeach pair being connected together and braced with respect to oneanother through the medium I of vertical brace bars 22.

For each pair of bars l7, 2|, there is provided a second pair of barsconsisting of an upper angle bar 23 and a lower angle bar 24.

Each bar 23 is connected with its bar I! by being riveted or otherwisesecured at one end as at 25 to a bearing member 26.

Also, each bar 24 is connected with a bar 2| through the medium of abearing disc 21, bars 24 and 2| being riveted at one end as at 28 to thebearing disc 21 as shown.

At their free outer ends each pair of bars 23, 24 is connected togetherthrough the medium of a vertical bar 29.

Thus it will be seen that each assembly of bars l1, 2l,-23, 24 and 29provides a frame structure which accommodates a pair of wings or blades30.

Also the frame structures, embodying the elements above referred to andwhich frame structures may be identified, respectively, as a whole bythe reference numeral 3| are braced with respect to the upper end of theshaft ll through 0 the medium of brace wires 32 suitably anchored at oneend to the outer upper corners of the frames 3| and at their inner endsuitably secured to a plate 33 provided fixedly, on the upper end of theshaft I I.

Also, the members 2! of the frames 3| are braced with respect to theshaft H through the medium of brace wires 34 that at one end are securedto the outer ends of the members 2! and their inner ends are suitablysecured as at 35 to a plate member 36 suitably fixed on the shaft 1 I asclearly shown in Figure 5.

Each windmill blade or wing assembly includes in addition to a pair ofblades 30, and as will be best understood from a study of Figures 4, 5and 6, a pair of vertical side bars 3'! which at their upper ends areintegral with or otherwise suitably secured to a bearing element 38complemental to the bearing element 26 to accommodate therebetween ballbearings or the like 39.

Also at their lower ends the side bars 31 are integral with or otherwisesecured to a bearing element 40 complemental to the bearing plate 21 toaccommodate therebetween ball bearings or the like 4'.

or vane assembly is a shaft 4? on the upper end of which is a gear 58.

Each gear 48 is in mesh with a gear 49 on a suitably supported shaft 56one end of which extends into the housing 52 and is equipped with a gear51.

As clearly shown in Figure 5, the gears 5| are in mesh with a gear 52also provided in the housing l2.

As shown in Figure 3, gear 52 arranged within the housing I2 is providedon the lower end of a sleeve 53 disposed on'the shaft H and suitablysecured to the sleeve 53 in a rigid manner is a vane 54. It will thus beseen that as vane 5 swings in response to the action of the windthereagair st gear 52 will rotate and the rotation of the gear will betransmitted through the shaftings 5D and the gears $8 to the shafts 4'!of the vane assemblies.

Also, for placing the vanes 30 of each assembly into and out of drivenengagement with the shaft 41 of said assembly there is provided asuitable clutch structure which includes a fixed, block-like clutchelement 55 that is suitably secured to the shaft 41.

Cooperable with the clutch element 55 is a slidable female, clutchelement 55 which, as clearly shown in Figure 9 is provided at oppositesides thereof with notches 5? to receive the side bars 31 whereby theclutch element 56 is held against rotative movement relative to theshaft 41.

On the under side thereof the clutch element 55 is provided with agrooved hub portion 58 with which is engaged the prongs of a fork 59.

As best shown in Figure 6, adjacent the pronged 'end thereof fork 59ispivotally mounted as at 6%! on a suitable bracket structure 6| providedat the upper ends of the bars 31.

Pivoted between the bars 3? as at 62 is a rocker arm 63 which as shownin Figure 4 comprises a pair of complemental strap-like members 6 3.

Pivoted to the arm 83 between one end of the members 64 of the arm as at65 is a link 66 which is pivoted also to the fork 59 as shown in Figure6. It will thus be seen that-rocking movement of the arm 63 willtransmit vertical sliding movement to the clutch element fififor movingthe latter into and out of engagement with the clutch 55 for controllingthe placing of the vanes 30 into and out of driven engagement with theshaft 41.

Acting on one end of the arm 63 are a pair of springs 68 which at oneend are connected with the arm as at 69 and at a relatively opposite endare connected with diagonal reinforcing members it provided for thevanes 38, the springs 68 at said last named ends being connected withthe reinforcing elements it as at M. It will thus be seen that springs58 normally act to cause the arm 63 to swing in a clockwise directionfor urging the clutch member 5t out of engagement with the clutch member55.

A second pair of springs l2 are connected at one end as at '33 with theopposite end of the arm 63, and these springs are anchored at theirlower ends to diagonal reinforcing bars I l pro-' vided on the vanes 30as indicated generally at 15. It will thus be seen'that the springs 12act in conjunction with the spring 68 for normally urging the clutchmember 56 downwardly out of engagement with the clutch element 55. Forcontrolling the engagement and disengagement of the clutch element, eachwing or blade assembly includes an internally and externally threadedmember 16 that is threaded into a sleeve 11 formed integral with thelower bearing member 40. Also threaded into the sleeve '16 is a threadedpin 78 to which is connected as at 19 one end of a flexible element, 19.The element 19 is trained over a sheave 8ll'supported between the sidebars 31 and is connected to one end of a spring 8! that in turn isconnected as at 82 with the end of the arm 63 connected through themedium of the link 66 with the fork 59.

The threaded stem 18 is provided with a head 83, opposite end edges ofwhich are notched as at 84 to accommodate the side members 31 in amanner to secure the threaded stem '58 against rotative movement and toconstrain the pin 13 to move vertically.

Further, in accordance with the present invention there are provided onthe outer ends of the arms 2! brackets83 in which are journaledsupporting rollers 84 that ride on an annular track 35. Figure 3 ismounted on the upper end of the tower l0.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is suspended fromone of the vane members 2| a bracket 86 which supports a conventionalcentrifugal governor indicated generally by the reference numeral 8'3.

The governor 81 includes among other parts the sliding collar 88 whichmoves in response to the action of the weighted arms of the governor andpivotally connected to the collar 88 is the fork end of a lever 89.

The lever 89 is pivoted as at 99 to a depending lug 9! provided on anarm extending laterally from the track 85 as shown in Figure 5.

Also pivoted on said arm, which arm is indicated by the referencenumeral 92 is a rocking lever 93 that at one end is operativelyconnected with the fork 89 through the medium of a link 9d.

On the lever 83 is provided at one end thereof a dog 95 and at arelatively opposite end thereof a The annular track 85 as clearly shownin dog 96 said dogs rocking with said lever and cooperating with a rackwheel 9 on the lower end of the aforementioned tubular member 16 forturning said member to feed or retract the screw '58 to thereby increaseor lessen the tension on the spring 8 I. Thus it will be seen that whenthe member 9'! is caused to turn in one direction the pin 18 is fedaxially therefrom to release the tension on spring 8! so that underaction of the spring 68 and i2 arm 63 will rock in a clockwise directionfor swinging the lever 59 in a direction to move the clutch member 56downwardly and out of engagement with the clutchmember 55. When,however, the member 16 is'caused to rotate in a reverse direction thenpin '18 is fed axiallyv inwardly to exert a pull on the spring 8| thuscausing the arm 63 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction in amanner to cause the lever 59 to swing upwardly for forcing the clutchelement 56 into engagement with the clutch element so that drive will betransmitted from the shaft H to the shafts ll to cause the blades 3G torevolve.

It will also be appreciated that when the clutch element 56 isdisengaged from the clutch element 55 there will be no positive drivetransmitted to the blade.

It will also be apparent that the arrangement is such that in a strongwind the blades. 30 are free to swing about their hinges 45 to presentthe edges of the blades to the wind thus preventing damage to thewindmill.

I claim:

1. In a windmill, the combination of a tower, a vertical rotatable shaftextending through the tower and above the upper end of the tower, arevoluble structure supported by the tower and connected with said shaftto rotate with the shaft, a plurality of pairs of vanes mounted in therevoluble structure, each pair of vanes including a short shaft mountedin the top of the revoluble structure, a pair of side plates connectedtogether at their upper and lower ends, a bearing between the connectedupper ends of said side plates and through which said short shaftextends, the vanes of said pair being hinged at their inner edges tosaid side plates, clutch means associated with the short shaft and saidside plates for placing said side plates in driven engagement with theshort shaft for transmitting drive from said short shaft to said vanes,a wind vane mounted on said vertical shaft to rotate about the latter asan axis, driving mechanism connecting the wind vane with theshort shaftsof the aforementioned respective vane assemblies for driving the latterfrom the wind vane, and mechanism connected with said Vertical-shaft andthe clutch mechanisms of the respective vane assemblies for engaging andreleasing said clutches in reponse to the speed of rotation of saidvertical shaft.

2. In a windmill, the combination of a tower, a vertical rotatable shaftextending through the tower and above the upper end of the tower, a'

revoluble structure supported by the tower and connected with said shaftto rotate with the shaft, a plurality of pairs of vanes mounted in therevoluble structure, each pair of vanes including a short shaft mountedin the top of the revoluble structure, a pair of side plates connectedtogether at their upper and lower ends, a bearing between the connectedupperends of said side plates and through which said short shaftextends, the vanes of said pair being hinged at their inner edges tosaid side plates, clutch means associated with the shortshaft and saidside plates for placing said side plates in driven engagement with theshort shaft for transmitting drive from said shaft to said vanes, a windvane mounted on said vertical shaft to rotate about the latter as anaxis, driving mechanism connecting the wind vane with the short shaftsof the aforementioned respective vane assemblies for driving the latterfrom the wind vane, and mechanism connected with said vertical shaft andthe clutch mechanisms of the respective vane assemblies for engaging andreleasing said clutches in response to the speed of rotation of saidvertical shaft, said clutch engaging and releasing means including acentrifugal governor embodying a shaft, driving mechanism connecting thegovernor shaft with said vertical shaft, a member mounted between saidside bars at the lower ends of the bars of the respective vaneassemblies for axial movement in two directions parallel to said sidebars, means operatively connecting said axially movable member with saidclutch mechanism, and means controlled by said centrifugal governor forshifting said axially movable member in either of said two directions toengage or release the clutch mechanism.

3. In a windmill, the combination with a tower, a vertical shaftrotatable therein, a frame fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, apair of vanes revolubly mounted in said frame, a wind vane freelyrotatable about said shaft, means for revolving said pair of vanes undercontrol of said wind vane and including gearing between said Wind vaneand said pair, cooperating clutch elements between the pair of vanes andsaid gearing and means for engaging and disengaging said elementsincluding a clutch shifting lever, a pair of tensioning springs tendingto urge said lever in opposite directions, respectively, and means forincreasing the tension exerted by one of said springs and comprising agovernor operative by said shaft, a pull cable, and a feed screwoperative by said governor to vary the pull on said cable.

4. In a windmill, the combination with a tower, a vertical shaftrotatable therein, and a frame fixed on said shaft for rotationtherewith, of a pair of vanes revolubly mounted in said frame, a windvane freely rotatable about said shaft, means for revolving said pair ofvanes under the control of said wind vane and including gearing betweensaid wind vane and said pair, cooperating clutch elements between thepair of vanes and. said gearing, and means for engaging and disengagingsaid elements including a clutch shifting lever, a pair of tensioningsprings tending to urge said lever in opposite directions, respectively,means for increasing the tension exerted by one of said springs andincluding a governor operative by said shaft, a pull cable, a feed screwon said frame operative to vary the pull on said cable,a toothed wheelon said screw for operating the same, and means to operate said wheelduring revolution of said frame and comprising a rocking dog operativeby said governor.

CLAUDE J. CLARK.

